Creating Maps

Mapiry gives you three powerful ways to create maps. Whether you want AI to do the heavy lifting, prefer manual control, or need to import existing data—we've got you covered.

The Three Creation Methods

1. AI-Powered Generation (Fastest ⚡)

Perfect for: Collections of similar places, discovering new spots, quick prototypes

Time: 2-3 minutes

Jump to AI Generation →

2. Manual Creation (Most Control 🎯)

Perfect for: Curated lists, specific locations, custom descriptions

Time: 10-15 minutes

Jump to Manual Creation →

3. Import from CSV/KML (Efficient 📊)

Perfect for: Migrating from Google Maps, bulk data, existing spreadsheets

Time: 5 minutes

Jump to Import Methods →

AI-Powered Generation

Let artificial intelligence create your map by simply describing what you want.

Step 1: Access the AI Generator

From the homepage, find the "Create with AI" section. You don't need to log in - anonymous users can use AI too!

Step 2: Write Your Prompt

Be specific about:

Type of locations (restaurants, attractions, hotels, etc.)
City and Country (always include both)
Optional criteria (rating, specialty, specific features)

Example Prompts That Work Well:

Food & Dining:

"Best ramen restaurants in Tokyo, Japan"
"Top-rated vegetarian cafes in Portland, Oregon"
"Authentic Italian restaurants in Rome, Italy"

Travel & Tourism:

"Must-see attractions in Barcelona, Spain"
"Hidden gems in Lisbon, Portugal"
"Family-friendly activities in Orlando, Florida"

Outdoor & Nature:

"Popular hiking trails in Banff, Canada"
"Best beaches in Bali, Indonesia"
"Scenic viewpoints in Iceland"

Business & Services:

"Co-working spaces in Berlin, Germany"
"Pet-friendly hotels in Seattle, Washington"
"Craft breweries in Denver, Colorado"

💡 Pro Tip: The more specific you are, the better your results. Always include city AND country.

⚠️ Note: AI generates up to 10 locations per map.

Step 3: Confirm Locations

After the AI identifies locations, you'll see a confirmation dialog showing all suggested places. You can:

Review each location name
Deselect any locations you don't want
Confirm to proceed with geocoding and map creation

This step helps you avoid unwanted locations before the map is finalized.

Step 4: Review & Refine

Once the AI generates your map (10-30 seconds), you'll see:

Locations with names, AI-generated descriptions, and coordinates
Auto-created categories based on place types
Map boundaries centered on your city

You can now:

✏️ Edit any location details
➕ Add more locations (manually or with additional AI prompts)
🗑️ Remove locations you don't want
🎨 Customize categories and colors
📸 Upload images to locations

Step 5: Save Your Map

Anonymous users: Your map is automatically saved with an edit token stored in your browser. Keep your URL safe!

Logged-in users: Your map is saved to your account automatically.

Make it Public: Toggle the public switch in map settings to share with others.

That's it! Your AI-generated map is ready.

AI Generation Limits

Logged-in Free users: 50 AI credits per day (map generation costs 25 credits)
Pro users: 5,000 AI credits per month
Anonymous users: 50 AI credits total (lifetime)

Credits reset daily at midnight UTC for Free users, or monthly on billing date for Pro users.

Learn more about AI features →

Manual Creation

Build your map from scratch with complete control over every detail.

Step 1: Create a New Map

Click Create Map from:

Homepage → "Create Manually" or "Get Started"
Dashboard → "New Map" button (if logged in)

Fill in the basic information:

Map Title (required)
Give your map a descriptive, searchable name

Good: "Best Coffee Shops in Melbourne"
Bad: "My Map" or "Untitled"

Description (optional but recommended)
Explain what your map is about and who it's for

Include keywords for better discoverability
1-2 sentences is perfect

Country (required)
Select the country where your map is located

City (required)
Enter the city name - this sets the initial map view and helps with discoverability

Map Style (optional)
Choose from several visual styles:

streets-v12 (default) - Clear labels and roads
satellite-v9 - Aerial imagery
light-v11 - Minimal light style
dark-v11 - Dark theme
outdoors-v12 - Great for nature/hiking

Public (optional)
Toggle whether your map is publicly visible on the Explore page

Zoom (optional)
Default zoom level (default: 12)

The map will automatically calculate appropriate boundaries and center point based on your city.

Step 2: Add Your First Location

Once your map is created, you'll see the map editor. Add locations by:

Method 1: Google Places Search

Use the search bar to find places
Type the place name or address
Select from the Google Places results
Details are automatically filled in

Method 2: Click on the Map

Click anywhere on the map
A marker appears with a location form
Fill in the details manually
Click Save

Location Details:

Name (required) - The location's name
Description (optional) - What makes it special
Category (optional) - Assign to a category
Image (optional) - Upload via Cloudinary
Coordinates (required) - Latitude and longitude

💡 Tip: Use Google Places Search for accurate, pre-filled location data!

Step 3: Create Categories

Organize your locations with color-coded categories.

From the map editor:

Click "Categories" or access the categories section
Click "Add Category" or "New Category"
Enter a name (e.g., "Restaurants", "Hotels", "Attractions")
Choose a color using the color picker
Save

Now you can assign locations to categories. Each category gets its own colored marker!

Category Tips:

Use 3-7 categories per map (more gets overwhelming)
Pick distinct colors that are easy to tell apart
Name them clearly (visitors should know what they mean)

Learn more about categories →

Step 4: Add More Locations

Continue adding locations using:

Google Places Search
Clicking on the map
Importing from CSV/KML

How many locations should you add?

Curated list: 5-15 locations (quality over quantity)
Comprehensive guide: 20-50 locations
Complete directory: 50+ locations

💡 Clustering: Maps with many locations automatically cluster nearby pins for clarity. Zoom in to see individual locations.

⚠️ Performance tip: Maps with 100+ locations may load slower on mobile devices

Step 5: Customize Your Map

Map Settings:

Adjust the map style
Set the default zoom level
Toggle public/private visibility
Create a custom slug for a friendly URL

Location Settings:

Reorder locations (affects sidebar display order)
Toggle visibility (show/hide specific locations)
Upload images for visual appeal
Edit descriptions and details

Once you're happy with your map:

Toggle Public: Make your map visible on the Explore page
Custom Slug: Create a friendly URL like /m/tokyo-food-guide
Share: Use sharing options to post on social media or get embed code
Private Sharing: Generate temporary access tokens for private maps (24-hour expiration)

Importing Data

Already have your locations in a spreadsheet or Google Maps? Import them!

CSV Import

Import locations from a CSV file.

Step 1: Prepare Your CSV

Your CSV should have these required columns:

name - Location name
lat or latitude - Latitude coordinate
lng or longitude - Longitude coordinate

Optional columns:

description - Location description
category - Category name (will be auto-created if doesn't exist)
hidden - true/false to hide location

Example CSV:

name,lat,lng,description,category
Blue Bottle Coffee,37.7749,-122.4194,Great coffee shop,Cafes
Golden Gate Park,37.7694,-122.4862,Beautiful urban park,Parks

Step 2: Import